Migration News 

Thousands of Farmworkers Are Prioritized for the Coronavirus Vaccine 

Miriam Jordan, The New York Times 

Mainly undocumented immigrants, they have borne the brunt of the coronavirus pandemic in California: In some areas, up to 40 percent of the workers tested for the virus had positive results. The Rev. Francisco Gómez at Our Lady of Soledad church in Coachella said his parish had been averaging 10 burials a week. “You’re talking about an apocalyptic situation,” he said. Ending the virus’s rampage through farm country has been one of the nation’s biggest challenges. Undocumented immigrants are notoriously wary of registering for government programs or flocking to public vaccination sites, and the idea of offering the Covid-19 vaccine to immigrants who are in the country illegally ahead of other Americans has spurred debate among some Republican members of Congress. 

Biden To Allow Some Separated Migrant Families To Reunite In The United States 

Franco Ordoñez, NPR 

Hundreds of migrant children still separated from their parents by the Trump administration may be allowed to reunite with their families in the United States — and some families may have the opportunity to stay, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced on Monday. Reuniting the families is one of the Biden administration's top priorities, something Mayorkas described as a "moral imperative." During former President Donald Trump's time in office, more than 5,500 migrant children were separated from their parents when they entered the country, and more than 1,400 parents were ultimately deported without their children. 

Sen. Alex Padilla's first bill would offer citizenship to essential workers 

Tal Kopan, San Francisco Chronicle 

California Sen. Alex Padilla unveiled his first piece of legislation since arriving in the Senate on Friday, a bill that would offer millions of immigrant essential workers and their families a path to citizenship. Choosing the topic for his symbolic first bill is indicative of the Democrat’s efforts to make his presence felt immediately in Washington on matters of immigration, a contentious issue that has stymied lawmakers for decades. 

A Deportation Nightmare in the Bronx 

Eric Lach, The New Yorker 

Javier was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement—a violation of New York City laws that would soon prompt a Department of Correction internal investigation. But that investigation would do nothing for Javier. He’d spend two Christmases, a pandemic, and a change in Presidential Administrations inside immigrant detention centers in New York, New Jersey, and Louisiana. Javier could be put on a plane to Honduras as soon as next week. 

Migrant releases resume at border communities in Arizona but on a smaller scale 

Rafael Carranza, Arizona Republic 

U.S. border authorities have resumed the practice of releasing asylum-seekers apprehended along the Arizona-Mexico border directly to communities throughout the state. But the number of asylum-seekers released remains far below the peak in arrivals in 2019, in large part because of pandemic restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, including a policy that allows the U.S. to turn away migrants, even if they have valid asylum claims. 

DHS chief defends Biden admin on immigration, says Trump 'gutted' system 

Quinn Owen, ABC News 

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Monday defended the Biden administration's handling of unaccompanied migrant children at the border against growing criticism, saying he hopes to give families separated under President Donald Trump the option to reunite in the U.S. while blaming the prior administration for having "gutted" the immigration system. "I learned that we did not have the facilities available or equipped to administer the humanitarian laws that our Congress passed years ago," Mayorkas said in his first appearance at a White House briefing. "We did not have the personnel, policies, procedures or training to administer those laws. Quite frankly, the entire system was gutted." 

Refugees are being removed from flights to the US as they await Biden's signature 

Priscilla Alvarez, CNN 

Hundreds of refugees who had been approved -- and booked -- to come to the United States are being taken off flights, according to resettlement agencies who work directly with refugees. President Joe Biden pledged to increase the number of refugees who could be admitted to the US after years of historic lows under his predecessor. But three weeks after announcing that this year's refugee cap would be modified, Biden has yet to sign the determination making it official, leaving refugees abroad in limbo. Last week, 60 refugees were unbooked from their flights and this week, more than 200 refugees have had their trips postponed, according to a source with knowledge of the matter. 

Biden meets with Mexican president amid growing pressure on immigration 

Anne Gearan, Mary Beth Sheridan, Nick Miroff and Kevin Sieff, The Washington Post 

President Biden met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Monday amid growing pressure to find a workable immigration policy, as he faces criticism from liberal Democrats for detaining migrant children and accusations from Republicans that he is recklessly throwing open the nation’s borders amid a pandemic. Biden and López Obrador issued a joint declaration affirming their will to cooperate on migration issues, particularly the long-term goal of creating more jobs in southern Mexico and Central America. But whether Biden can get Mexico’s immediate help to contain the growing border influx was not clear. 

Further Reading 

Migrants face danger as numbers headed toward US grow 

CNN 

Opinion: The Biden administration needs to fix its message to asylum seekers 

The Washington Post 

As a doctor in a European refugee camp, I found deep neglect and xenophobia 

The New Humanitarian  

Colorado’s refugee resettlement and assistance agencies prepare for life after the Trump administration 

The Denver Post 

'I suffered a lot,' asylum seeker's journey to the U.S. and his reunion with family 

WOAI 

Immigrant group wants clear rules on ICE in Philly schools 

The Philadelphia Inquirer 

Asylum-seeker reunited with family in Ft. Walton Beach hopeful stay is permanent 

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